Shul Bulletin

Tens of thousands around the US and Canada will join simultaneously for "Connection & Commitment: A live, interactive coast-to-coast farbrengen" in preparation for Gimmel Tammuz Tomorrow Sunday, June 26 - 20 Sivan 5776.

Hundreds of communities will gather together to join the historic event, joining live with Anash communities across the USA and Canada.

The Los Angeles event will take place at 10:30 am at the BANCROFT MIDDLE SCHOOL (See Flyer Below)

and will feature RABBI MOSHE BRYSKY

Only those who attend will receive a raffle ticket to win a round trip ticket to New York for GIMEL TAMUZ

and will be given a limited special souvenir "Hachana for Gimmel Tamuz"
booklet for children

The Los Angeles event is being organized with the participation of local Shuls and Rabbonim.

Famed performer Bentzi Marcus of the popular 8th Day band will be performing live from Miami during the program.

A special raffle will be held in Los Angeles and at each participating communities' local event for a trip to the Rebbe's Ohel for Gimmel Tamuz.

The raffle will be drawn in each city throughout the course of Sunday's event and the winner will receive a free trip to NY, representing his/her community.

Dozens of communities have already confirmed their participation in the event, with many more to join, which will be hosted live from locations including Houston, TX; Miami, Florida; Montreal, Canada; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn & Monsey NY.

The program will be geared for men, women and children and will include special video clips of the Rebbe, world class speakers as well as special live, musical presentations - all featured live from various locations across the USA and Canada.

Creating a Conducive Environment in the Spiritual Desert
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

In last week’s and this week’s parsha the Torah speaks about the Bnei Levi. Bnei Levi were responsible for carrying and assembling the Mishkan. The Bnei Kehos carried the vessels; the Aron, Menorah, Mizbeach and Shulchan. The Bnei Gershon carried the curtains etc while the Bnei Merari carried the boards etc. which made up the structure of the Mishkan. The Bnei Gershon and Merari were responsible for setting up the Mishkon in advance so when the Bnei Kehos arrived with the keilim they were ready to be placed inside. What is the lesson that this teaches us today? These mitzvos were only for the Bnei Yisroel when they travelled in the midbar. What relevant lesson does this teach us today in our service of Hashem?

Just like there is a physical desert, so too there is a spiritual desert. At times a person may feel lost in a spiritual desert that seems impossible to leave. So too nowadays in America it seems at times as if we have lost our way. Standards continue to drop. We tend to demand less and less of ourselves and our children. Test scores in the schools are less demanding. Instead of creating an environment that raises the bar on what we can achieve, we see the opposite. Society is lost in the desert. Our job is to find a way out of the desert. So what can we do? Each one of us needs to build a Mishkan for Hashem in our personal lives.

From among the children of Levi, Gershon was the bechor. Kehos was the next oldest followed by Merari. We see in the Torah however that Kehos was counted first, because he was the most holy. If Kehos was the most holy then why didn’t Hashem also make him the bechor? The Rebbe brings in Likutei Sichos (v. 13) an explanation of the Alter Rebbe in Likutei Torah that building of the Mishkan in the service of Hashem is similar to remodeling. First, you must clean and paint, then you can bring in the furniture. So too spiritually, we need to be ‘sur m’ra - to go away from what is improper’, and then to be ‘asei tov – to do good’. Gershon represents the need to drive out the negative. This is the first step. In order to accomplish this we need Merari which represents ‘mar’- bitter, to make an expert and sober accounting of both our accomplishments and shortcomings and our overall condition. After taking spiritual stock we need to be irked by our present state and desire change. This is known by the term ‘mari d’chushbana- master (also ‘mar’ bitter) accountant’. By carrying the structural portion of the Mishkon, Merari represents the wall of separation that comes between the desert and all that comes with it and what is inside of the Mishkon, a discreet environment of kedusha. Once this has been accomplished, then Gershon can hoist the curtains over the walls, completing the separation of the sanctified environment. And then Kehos bring in all of the vessels, which represent’s all of the things that we need to utilize in the service of Hashem.

In summary, Gershon and Merari made a suitable environment, the walls and the covering of the Mishkan, to provide a place for the vessels that provide the revelation of the divine presence that comes with all the warmth and the feeling together with the service inside the Mishkan.

We follow a similar order in our lives, in our service of Hashem. For example, we use tanks to go on mivtzoyim. We pull individuals inside the tanks to do a mitzvah. What do we need a tank for? We need a tank in order to take him out of the street, an environment which is hostile to kedusha. Then you can speak to him and fill him with the warmth and beauty of the mitzvah that he does. In order to do mivtza neshek, you need a candle holder and a table, a suitable environment through which the candle can transform the environment into a holy place. The shul is known as the mikdash me’at, the small mikdash, an environment to daven. It is a place intended to be closed off from the world, to be entered and filled with tefillah. As we know from Shulchan Aruch, there is supposed to be an entry way in between the door and the shul that is there to create a separation from the outside in order to have a removed and settled place to delve into prayer without disturbance. This applies to children in school as well. A teacher needs to create a warm and welcoming environment that is conducive for learning. So too our homes, we need to create an environment that makes it conducive to excel in all aspects of Yiddishkeit.

Even though the main thing is not the environment, rather how we use the environment, nevertheless, we need a fitting environment to be able to accomplish what is necessary. Therefore, Gershon and Merari had to be first, (not Kehos) even though the the main thing was Kehos’ service, which represents Torah and Avodah.

In order to drive away the evils of the world, it isn’t necessary to make speeches full of fire and brimstone or give mussar. A simple and heartfelt expression such as “ez past pisht – it’s not for you” is often more than enough to draw the correct distinction.

So practically speaking; “why do we need a mashpia? If the reason is because we need to hear a maamer, there are many options online! Do we go to a fabrengen to hear a d’var Torah? For that we can open a sefer. We go for the environment, to experience the chassidishe atmosphere. We go to the mashpia for guidance, in order to help create a chassidishe environment out of our home and our life, and how to constantly approve. We go for clear guidance, like a specific maamer to learn or a specific mitzvah to be mehader in. Guidance to see what is missing, in order to pull myself out of the desert and to build a Mishkan, a truly warm chassidishe environment.

There is a story told of Reb Chaim Brisker about once when an individual from the community asked him a shaaloh about whether you can be yotzei the four cups of the Seder on milk. Upon hearing the shaaloh he immediately sent his son with money for this man’s family for the entire Pesach. His son asked; “Tatte, he just asked a shaaloh about milk, he didn’t ask for tzedakah?” Reb Chaim understood this person’s ‘environment’. He understood that if he was asking to be yotzei the four cups on milk, then certainly there was no meat or chicken in the house. He understood the environment of the person who asked the question and therefore he knew how to address his needs properly. This is an example of a true Rav, and that you cannot find online or by making a search using Rabbi Google.

The Rebbe is the Aron with the Luchos and we need to create the environment, a Mishkan with the assistance of our mashpia.

Tens of thousands around the US and Canada will join simultaneously for "Connection & Commitment: A live, interactive coast-to-coast farbrengen" in preparation for Gimmel Tammuz on Sunday, June 26 - 20 Sivan 5776.

Hundreds of communities will gather together to join the historic event, joining live with Anash communities across the USA and Canada.

The Los Angeles event will take place at 10:30 AM At the Bancroft Middle School and will feature Rabbi Moshe Brysky

The Los Angeles event is being organized with the participation of local Shuls and Rabbonim.

Famed performer Bentzi Marcusof the popular 8th Day band will be performing live from Miami during the program.

A special raffle will be held in Los Angeles and at each participating communities' local event for a trip to the Rebbe's Ohel for Gimmel Tamuz.

The raffle will be drawn in each city throughout the course of Sunday's event and the winner will receive a free trip to NY, representing his/her community.

Dozens of communities have already confirmed their participation in the event, with many more to join, which will be hosted live from locations including Houston, TX; Miami, Florida; Montreal, Canada; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn & Monsey NY.

The program will be geared for men, women and children and will include special video clips of the Rebbe, world class speakers as well as special live, musical presentations - all featured live from various locations across the USA and Canada.

Dear friends,
We are going to cook for a family of 4 adults.
Today was the surgery for Mr. Aharon and for a week the family will be near him in the Hospital in Downtown.
For that period of time Ateres Avigail Bikur Holim will assist with meal delivery and pick up the food from your house,so please make sure to write your address when you sign up on the schedule.
Any food is wellcome like fish ,dairy and meat/chicken with Chabad hashgaha.
The second week Yi"H they will be at home and we will see if one of their boys could pick it up,because it still a time before camps start,kids going away and other summer excitement.
Pleas say Kapitel 61 for Aharon ben Dina.
We should hear only good news,
Tizku lemitzvos!

All are invited to join us for a most unique evening as we salute the graduates of Bais Toras Menachem Yeshiva of Los Angeles. This is not just a 'graduation'...it is a CELEBRATION. It is a communal Simcha of the highest caliber, as we are saluting bachurim who against all odds, have superseded their own, and our expectations, and achieved SO much! (Whether Smicha, or part thereof, Safrus, Shchita, ged/college course, CPR etc etc..)

It is a communal Simcha, because by celebrating with these boys, we are making a statement, that eachand every bachur matters.

Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Burston in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together. Also in honor of Rabbi Chaim Burston’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Rabbi & Mrs. Jonathan Glabman in honor of Rabbi Jonathan Glabman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Mr. & Dr. Martin Leaderman for the yahrtzeit of Dr. Margalit Leaderman’s father Reb Nissen ben Reb Lebel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Anatian in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.

Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Finck in honor of their daughter’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Nathanson in honor of Rabbi Yossi Nathanson’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Mr. & Mrs. Mitch Reichman in honor of Mrs.Atara Reichman’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Also in honor of the birthdays of their children Alexander Sender & Sara Gittel. May they have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

All the children in our community graduating from Cheder Menachem, YOEC, the Smicha Program, Bais Chaya Mushka, Bais Rebbe and Ohel Chana. May they continue to have success in their learning and give much Nachas to their parents.

Mr. & Mrs. Shea Bastomski on the engagement of their daughter Rachel to Moshe Maiman.

Rabbi and Mrs. Gershon Schusterman on the birth of their grandson (to Levi and Tzippy Shloush.)

Everyone is given the Time and the Power
to complete his or her Mission
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This Shabbos is the 12th day of Sivan. In the time of the Bais HaMikdash this was the last day that a korban could be brought for the Yom Tov. That's why they are called 'yemei tashlumim, the days of completion'. Therefore this is the time we focus on what we take from Shavuos into our daily lives. We can find this lesson in the parsha of the week, parshas Naso.

In this week's Torah portion we are told how the Nesiim, aside from their offerings, brought wagons and oxen and brought them to Moshe Rabbenu who was told by Hashem to give them to the Leviim. The Leviim used the oxen and the wagons to carry the boards and coverings of the Mishkon from place to place in the desert. All in all they gave one wagon for every two Nessiim and one ox each. The Gemara in Shabbos explains how careful they had to be stacking the boards on the wagons and how a Levi would have to stand behind the wagons in order to prevent the boards from falling because they were stacked to full capacity.

Why couldn't they make it easier by providing some extra wagons to give more space for stacking? The Rebbe explains everything we have needs to be used to it's utmost. If six wagons can do the job, then using a seventh wagon would amount having extra unnecessary space. That means that there would be space in the Mishkon without a purpose or use. In the Mishkon nothing is extra, everything has purpose.

This is a very important lesson in the service of Hashem and life in general. We learn that is there is no concept of extra time or wasted energy. We do our best to fully utilize everything we have in the service of the Mishkon because Hashem did not create anything without a purpose.

On the other hand this idea is not meant to produce anxiety or worry. It also doesn't mean that we feel that we can never take a break or rest up. We need time to to rejuvenate, refocus and reinvigorate. Rest is part of filling our purpose. We don't need to be worried about resting while we're active nor do we need worry that we are being idle while resting. Both are valuable and there's a time for everything.

As summer arrives and many of us go on vacation and many of our children attend camps we are reminded of the many Sichos from the Rebbe about how important the camp experience is in reinvigorating and inspiring us in our service of Hashem.

There is a story in the fourth volume of the Igros Kodesh of the Previous Rebbe. On one of the weekly trips of the Rebbe Rashab back from the datche to Lubavitch to visit his mother and to receive people for Yechidus he overheard Shaul the Wagon Driver dealing with the horses. After he stopped by a well to give them water he whipped them and said to them the following. "Do you think I gave you water to make your hay tastier? No! I gave you the water so that you should have more strength to pull the wagon."

After hearing this the Rebbe sat for a long while deep in thought and then said that the Baal Shem Tov teaches that everything a Jew sees or hears is a lesson for the service of Hashem. A Jew needs to realize that he is given his physical needs in order to schlep, to pull his spiritual wagon through learning the Torah and his service of Hashem. One should not err in thinking that what really counts is the hay, our personal indulgences.

In the year 5746, the Rebbe put forth a “Bakasha-Nafshis” (heartfelt request) asking all Jews to participate in unity gatherings on Shabbos-Bamidbar, in preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuos.

In light of this call, on this Shabbos day, ALL THREE MINYONIM will be joining together for Chassidus, Shacharis and Farbrengen, we kindly ask everyone in our community to participate, in the spirit of כאיש אחד בלב אחד Like one man with one heart. See Schedule Below.

Following Krias HaTorah @ KYY, all the children will go upstairs to Moshe Ganz Hall to join both adult minyonim for Musaf. Immediately after Musaf we will all join for a Shabbos Achdus Rally and story by the world-reknown R' Sroly Hecht! Bainany and Mini Minyan will be in their usual Shabbos rooms.

Let us hope and pray that in merit of the efforts of our community, we will be Zocheh, long before Shavuos, to the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

Joint Shiur Chassidus - By Rabbi Mendel Schapiro
9:00 am

Joint Shacharis - Upstairs in Moshe Ganz Hall10:00 am

Shabbos Achdus Kids Rally and Story
by the world-reknown R' Sroly Hecht!

Joint Kiddush-FarbrengenGuest Speaker: Rabbi Reuven Wolf - Shabbos In Mezibuz
for men in the Shul, for women in the Kolel.

Shacharis upstairs: 10:15 am
WOMEN: PLEASE ENTER THROUGH THE BACK ENTRANCE ON OAKWOOD.

Aseres Hadibros: 11:45 pm

KYY and Chaya's Ezras Noshim invites children of ALL AGES to our - NEVER BEFORE SEEN - HAKHEL FLAVOR ICE CREAM PARTY and Rally on the 1st day of Shavuos!!! The Ice Cream rally will begin after the adult Minyan finishes davening upstairs in Moshe Ganz Hall.

Mincha: 7:45 pm

Light Candles from a pre-existing flame after: 8:50 pm

(Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu)

Monday, Sivan 7/June 13
Second Day Shavuos

Shacharis upstairs: 10:15 am
WOMEN: PLEASE ENTER THROUGH THE BACK ENTRANCE ON OAKWOOD.

The wording of the Rebbe’s bracha for the Yom Tov of Shavuos; Kabbolas HaTorah b’Simcha uv’Pnimius, to receive the Torah with joy and taken internally originated with the Previous Rebbe.

One may ask that every Yom Tov is a time of simcha; why do mention simcha specifically in the bracha for the Yom Tov of Shavuos?

There is a story about a chosid named Rav Peretz (who was a melamed and known to be on a high level in the service of Hashem) who once came to the Rebbe Maharash for Shavuos. He wasn’t expecting to be granted a yechidus but out of the blue the secretaries suddenly called him into the Rebbe. During his yechidus he complained to the Rebbe that he felt like he was an empty vessel (meaning he is not where his is supposed to be in his service of Hashem). The Rebbe responded positively saying that if he felt like an empty vessel he had already reached an important level in his service of Hashem. Then the Rebbe said to him that he was already on the road but that he still needed to wash out his vessel. Usually that is done with Tehillim and tears; but not before Shavuos. We approach Kabbolas HaTorah with simcha.

It is known that the transformation of the Jewish people that took place from before to after Matan Torah was a transformation of gerus, of conversion. When we entered into the new covenant at Matan Torah we were converted into the Jewish nation. When we became a nation we became a new being which is a great cause for simcha!

Even though Shavuos is the Yartzeit of David HaMelech who was the author of Tehillim, and therefore there is no better time to recite Tehillim, which is even better when it is with tears, nevertheless we don’t. This is because of the overwhelming simcha of our collective gerus, our conversion to becoming the Jewish people. This simcha is remembered and relived every Shavuos throughout the entire Yom Tov.

So far we have explained the reason the Rabbeim wish us a kabbolas HaTorah bSimcha; but why does the bracha include; “u’v’pnimius, and inwardly” as well? The answer can be understood from the example of when a person becomes a citizen of a new country. When he is tested and confirmed he isn't just checked that he knows and follows the rules but they look to see if he is involved and motivated, patriotic to be a new citizen of their country. The same is true when we become a nation on Shavuos. On Shavuos we don’t just go through the motions, robotically fulfilling the obligations of hearing the Ten Commandments and eating cheese cake just to fulfill the requirements and no more. We internalize the greatness of Shavuos and the opportunity we have been given to receive the Torah with true involvement and simcha. This simcha and pnimius gives us inspiration and power for the entire year.

In the year 5746, the Rebbe put forth a “Bakasha-Nafshis” (heartfelt request) asking all Jews to participate in unity gatherings on Shabbos-Bamidbar, in preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuos.

In light of this call, on this Shabbos day, ALL THREE MINYONIM will be joining together for Chassidus, Shacharis and Farbrengen (Shacharis will be in upstairs), we kindly ask everyone in our community to participate, in the spirit of כאיש אחד בלב אחד Like one man with one heart. See Schedule Below.

Let us hope and pray that in merit of the efforts of our community, we will be Zocheh, long before Shavuos, to the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

Joint Shiur Chassidus
9:15 am

Joint Shacharis
10:15 am
Upstairs in Moshe Ganz Hall

Followed by aJoint Kiddush-Farbrengen
for men in the Shul, for women in the Kolel.

Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!

CAMP: Girls! Sign up today for Camp Gan Yisroel!! Space is limited and filling fast. Click here for more info. To help sponsor the security guard for the camp facility during the summer while our children are enjoying camp, please go to www.gofundme.com/cgi-hp.

The Rebbe the Writer and the Warden:
How any moment and any one of us is exceptional and capable of breaking the lockdown Galus and bringing the Geula Now!By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

After this Shabbos we begin the final week of Sefiras HaOmer in preparation for Shavuos. We learn about the preciousness of time, how every moment is unique and every day important. During Sefirah we do our best to use and account for our time in the service of Hashem.

Matan Torah reminds us that every person is indispensable and valuable, even the most simple and unnoticed person. We see that Moshe Rabbenu was not allowed to receive the Torah until every single individual was present, even those that bowed to the graven image of micha.

This week I was visiting the prisoners at the local jail. All of a sudden they placed the entire institution of over 1800 prisoners under complete lockdown. I was required to stay until they lifted the order. Why? Because they had a suspicion that one prisoner out of the entire facility might be missing. They had to account for each and every person before anyone could be released from lockdown. This first hand experience was a good reminder about how important everyone is to all of us. Even if there is a doubt if someone missing or left out it effects everything, maybe even bringing us all into ‘lockdown’ until we account for and help that one wandering soul. It is with this attitude and this perspective that we approach the Yom Tov of Shavuos. We go together and prepare to receive the gift of Hashem's Torah on Shavuos.

Nevertheless many of us feel so many time constraints. There's only so many hours in a day. How much can really accomplish with all the demands and responsibilities we already juggle? Where are we going to get the necessary time and energy to devote to searching for and helping those around us that may be missing? It's daunting and unending task. There is a story from the Rebbe that teaches us that it is possible for each one of us to be successful. There was a Chosid by the name of Mayer Blizinsky in Israel who was in the baking business. He had a lot of contacts and friends in nonreligious circles. He befriended man by the name of Avigdor HaMeiri, a famous novelist at that time. He had just written a fictional story about a religious person that left Judaism. Through Mayer's contact with Avigdor, Avigdor decided to send the book to the Rebbe. Eventually he also went to see the Rebbe in New York. During his yechidus the Rebbe went through the book quoting different passages in detail, showing a deep understanding of what was written. Avigdor HaMeiri was extremely impressed and touched with the Rebbe’s grasp and the fact that he had taken so much of his precious time from his very busy schedule to consider his thoughts. The Rebbe then asked him a question that got underneath his skin. The Rebbe asked: “What will the youth gain from your book?” This question in particular made him consider everything that he was doing and got him to reflect on the worth of his efforts. What indeed was the message that he was sending to the youth? In what way would their lives and lives of the next generation be improved by what he was writing? What was the purpose of his writing if the youth weren’t going to gain? Was he just enjoying the pleasure of writing and publishing or was there a real purpose behind his work? He then asked the Rebbe: “How did you find the time to read this book when you have so much to do and so many other responsibilities?”. The Rebbe answered that “time is infinite”. If we utilize time properly we have success. When we utilize time properly we can achieve on many levels.

These two stories teach a lesson about the Rebbe’s call to all of us to do all that we can to bring Moshiach. Some say: “I'm really not a candidate to be successful at doing this. Someone else is far more fitting than I. He or she will be the one who will do what is necessary to bring Moshiach”. Others may accept that they have a job to do but at any particular moment in time in a particular situation may say: “Right now is just not the time to be inserting Moshiach into the conversation or situation. Another time during a different conversation or circumstance will be more fitting. I’ll do it then.” Others may accept that they have a job to do to help bring Moshiach and that they need to bring it into every situation, but nonetheless say: “Yes its true, no doubt that I must do all that I can to bring Moshiach in the situation that confronts me but, today is just not that day, I’m too stressed out. Tomorrow will be a better day, I’ll do it then.”

The lesson from these two stories is clear. Today is a great day to do all that we can to bring Moshiach. It depends on each one of us and no one else. Each in our own way, exactly within the present situation. Time is infinite if we use it well. Do we ask ourselves and remember what the effect of what we are saying and what we are doing in this world? Standing before Shavuos let's ask ourselves just as in the story: “What will be gained, what will our children will gain from what we are doing?”

Every single one of us is important and every single one of us is necessary for the fulfilling the purpose of creation, the revelation of Moshiach now, today. May we all merit to receive together as one the Torah Chadasha of Moshiach this Shavuos.